Building towards a bright future in Leeds

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A landmark Leeds city centre site’s recovery from the impact of the recession is poised to take another significant step forward.

Property company Bruntwood has confirmed that it is on the verge of submitting a planning application for a six-storey office building at Sovereign Square.

The area was due to be home to a £115m ‘kissing towers’ development until the scheme fell victim to the credit crunch in 2008.

More recently, however, a bold new vision has emerged for the site, at the corner of Sovereign Street and Swinegate.

Construction is already under way on an office building for accountancy firm KPMG at 1 Sovereign Square. Plans have also been announced for the creation of a green space at the heart of the site.

And bosses at Bruntwood say they are hugely excited by the prospect of adding their own piece to the development jigsaw.

The firm is working with construction partner Kier Property on plans for its 93,000 sq ft office building at 3 Sovereign Square.

Bruntwood director Craig Burrow said: “3 Sovereign Square provides a unique opportunity to create a bespoke statement building as part of a scheme that will transform this part of the city centre. As a local developer that has grown and developed within the city over the past several years, we cannot think of a more exciting opportunity than this.”

Asked about potential occupiers, Bruntwood said it was in discussion with a number of interested parties. It also said it hoped to start construction work at the end of this year or the beginning of next.

The site was used as a car park for many years following the demolition of the Queens Hall concert venue in 1989.

Sovereign Square isn’t the only location in Leeds on the up after the scuppering of a flagship scheme by the recession. Plans have been confirmed for a new office and leisure development called Central Square on the Wellington Street site once earmarked for the Lumiere skyscrapers project.